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Gostisbehere skating again

Following practice on Monday, Ron Hextall talked to the media via conference call from Toronto, where the Flyers GM is currently watching the World Junior Tournament.

Among the many topics that were commented on was the injury and rehab process of defense prospect Shayne Gostisbehere, who suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 7 in the Phantoms game in Manchester against the Monarchs that a week later required surgery.

Gostisbehere has been spending time rehabbing at the Flyers practice facility, but has just recently made an important step in getting back on the ice.

“He’s been skating for a little while,” said Hextall. “He skated today. It’s just a skate though. It’s an aerobic skate, and he goes out there and skates around and trying to get his wind back and legs back. So he’s well on the way to recovery, albeit he still has some time.”

Gostisbehere recorded three assists in his last two games with the Phantoms before going down with injury.

It’s unknown the exact date he took his first strides on the ice, but Hextall stated that he’s been out there a couple times in the past few weeks now. The only unknown is a possible date of return to the lineup with Hextall reiterating that there is no timetable set for his recovery.

“Until we hear from the doctors, I’m not going to speculate on that,” added Hextall. “When we talked, I don’t think mid-February is probably far off from where it’s going to be.”

In his first season since turning pro, the 21-year-old recorded five points, all assists, in five games with the Phantoms before going down with his injury.

He also received his first recall to the NHL on Oct. 24, making his NHL debut against the Red Wings the next day. In two games with the Flyers, he recorded two shots and an average ice time of 12:33, before returning to Lehigh Valley on Nov. 1.

GIROUX & LAUGHTON UPDATESIn other Flyers injury news, captain Claude Giroux did not practice today. He is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury he suffered in Carolina on Friday.

“I think it’s possible he plays, but that’s about the most information I can give you,” said Hextall. “It is a discomfort issue, so that’s good and bad I guess. We wish he wasn’t uncomfortable, but that’s where he’s at. So as soon as he can get his skate on and go to work, then he’ll go to work.”

The other forward not in the lineup in Saturday’s game at New Jersey was Scott Laughton, who had previously played in all 22 games since being recalled from the Phantoms on Nov. 18.

Laughton was out with a lower-body injury, but took part in a full practice on Monday.

“I should be good. I felt good out there today and [there were] no issues at all and I felt back to normal,” said Laughton, who took shifts on a line with Michael Raffl and Wayne Simmonds at practice.

He has five points (2g-3a) and 10 penalty minutes while recording an average of 13:39 of ice-time per-game.